Perhaps the software industry will experience a famine-and-feast cycle
similar to that of the oil industry. After the U.S. oilfield employment
peaked at 860,000 in 1982, companies slashed more than 500,000 jobs over
the next 18 years. Texas A&M's petroleum engineering school had 1,422
undergraduates in 1982, 191 majors in 2001, and 507 majors in 2006.
Demand for geologists, geophysicists, and petroleum engineers now far
outstrips supply. Worldwide energy demand continues to escalate.
Waves of baby boomers are beginning to retire. Starting salaries are
$70,000 or higher.
[ article ]

Very modest proposal: using puzzles is an excellent
vehicle for stimulating interest, demonstrating, and practicing
programming.

They require no special hardware or graphics/video performance.

There is no ambiguity or arguing about requirements - you
implement the puzzle ... period.